DE3040533A1 - PRINTER CONTROL SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

Rosenthal 7 / II. D - 8000 Munich 2

B.

PITNEY-BOWES, INC., Stamford, Conn., USA

Printer control system

130020/071?

JiO ' ^B 582

The invention relates to printer control systems, and in particular to printer control systems suitable for use in franking machines

Electronic postage meter machines with electronic accounting circuits have been developed. Such franking machines are in U.S. Patent 3,978,457 relating to a "microcomputerized electronic postage meter system" and in U.S. Patent 3,938,095 relating to a "computer reactive postage meter". The electronic accounting circuitry includes storage facilities for postage accounting information save. The memory function of the electronic booking circuit replaces that in franking machines Function performed by mechanical accounting registers.

In postage meter machines with mechanical accounting registers, many of the problems encountered with electronic postage meter machines do not occur at all. In postage meter machines with mechanical registers, there can normally be no conditions under which a booking for a print cycle is prevented or which result in a loss of data stored in the registers. Accordingly, a correspondingly reliable control of the operation of the postage printing mechanism ¹ in electronic franking machines is desirable. It is also desirable in systems of this type that the printing mechanism be controlled in such a way that printing of postage is inhibited if the system is not operating properly.

Postage meter printing systems suitable for use in electronic postage meter machines, such as those described in the "Adjustment Mechanism." for a postage printing device "related US-PS 3,965,851 and in a" machine setting mechanism

130020/075 *

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nism "relating to U.S. Patent 4,050,374 a printing drum with a set of printing wheels arranged one behind the other, each of which bears printing characters. Every print wheel is, for example, for position adjustment according to different postage amounts to be printed, by an independent rotatable gear mechanism set which is engageable with a control gear. The timing gear is rotatably arranged within a laterally movable slide. The carriage can be moved around one by one engage each of the independently rotatable gear mechanisms. The printing drum is through a Drive gear provided within the postage meter machine for printing postage charges. Postage meter printing systems of this type are detachably mounted on a drive base. With this attachment, the drive gear of the postage meter meshes with a drive gear of the Base. A suitable drive base is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,934,009 relating to "Sheet Feeding and Handling".

Franking machine printing systems can have a locking rod movably mounted within the machine. The locking bar can be moved into a blocking position and also back again, in which a drive of the drive gear of the postage meter machine Is blocked. When the machine is attached to the base, the locking bar is mechanically connected to one in the Base provided locking rod lever connected to the locking rod for movement to the locked position and back. A clutch is provided in the base which is operated by the lock bar lever. The coupling is arranged in such a way that that rotation of the drive gear of the base is prevented until the locking rod lever is in a position, according to which the locking rod from the locking position is withdrawn. This ensures that when the basis for a drive of the drive gear of the postage meter machine is triggered, the drive gear of the base only starts rotating when the locking rod is pushed through the locking rod lever has been withdrawn from its locked position.

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040533

582

The printing systems of the adjustable franking machines of the above type can also have intermediaries through which a means of the locking rod lever of the drive base, the retraction of the locking rod from its locking position is prevented. the Intermediaries can be operated in the sense of locking the locking rod in the locked position and thereby lock the Supply of the drive energy for the drive gear of the machine when the franking machine is not in a perfect condition is set for printing postage. For example, in the one "postage meter setting mechanism" relevant US-PS 4,050,374 the locking rod by a Cam attachment of the control gear slide or yoke locked, when the slide has been moved to a position other than an operating position. These arrangements are found to be satisfactory and work perfectly for their intended purpose.

The invention provides improved control over the selection and printing functions for the printed characters. This creates a created increased security that the franking machine works properly during printing. The invention creates flexibility in the control of the postage meter printing mechanism to detect an incorrect setting or an incorrect Prevent printing. In addition, the invention creates a system that is particularly useful for franking machines, specifically electronic Franking machines, is suitable, in which an additional protection against incorrect setting of the postage fee amount and improper printing of the postage amount is particularly desirable.

Includes a printer control system embodying the invention a means of printing. The printer means has adjustable pressure members and is through an operating power source to Printing can be driven. Drive means are operatively connected to the printer means for driving the printer means to print. Printer locking means are coupled to the drive means. The printer locking means prevents the drive

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means for driving the printer means for printing in operation is settable. Adjustment means with a rotatably mounted gear wheel are operatively coupled to the printer means to the Selective adjustment of pressure links. Actuating means is controlled by the adjusting means gear. The actuating means is connected to the printer locking means for actuating the Printer locking means connected to the drive means in its directed action on printing by the printer means to lock.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, adjustment lock means is provided. The adjustment lock means is with the adjustment means coupled to lock the adjusting means in its directed to adjusting the pressure members effect. The actuation means is coupled to the adjustment lock means. The actuator actuates the adjustment lock means under the control of the adjustment means gear to lock the adjustment means in to block its effect aimed at adjusting the pressure members.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and the drawing which is expressly referred to with regard to all details not mentioned in the text. Show here:

vische Fig. 1 is a partially broken away perspective / view of a

franking machine embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the postage meter machine shown in FIG. 1 in a view from the left in operational engagement with a postage meter machine drive base, and FIG
3 to 6 enlarged perspective partial views of parts of the postage meter machine shown in FIG. 1 in different operating positions, by means of which the understanding of the invention is facilitated.

Reference is now made to the figures of the drawing, in which the same parts are used with the same in the various representations

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Reference numerals are denoted. A franking machine TO has a rotatable drum 12 driven by a drive gear 14 connected to the stepped drum shaft 16 of the postage meter is rotatably driven. The postage meter machine is not shown and is resistant to counterfeiting Protective housing included to provide physical or physical protection. The printing drum has a Number of adjustable print wheels 18. The print wheels are adjustable to different print characters for a printing process position on a mailpiece when the printing drum 12 is rotatably driven. The print wheels can similar to those disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,829,591. The adjustment of each of the print wheels is through a rack, like the rack 20a which is operatively engaged with a rack gear 22a, and the rack 20b which is operatively meshes with the rack gear 22b, controlled. Additional racks, not shown, are through lower rack gears 24a and 24b controlled. The rack gears 22a, 22b, 24a and 24b bring their respective ones when rotated Racks within the stepped drum shaft slid into position around the associated print wheels for the purpose by pressing on a desired print mark.

The rack gears 22a and 22b are arranged for rotation with concentric shafts 26a and 26b. Laterally spaced Gears 28a and 28b are mounted on the concentric shafts. One rotation of the gear 28a rotates the shaft 26a, whereby a rotation of the gear 22a is caused to the co-operating rack 20a in the sense of a position adjustment to move the associated print wheel. Gear 28b operates in the same manner with shaft 26b, gear 22b and the rack 20b together. It should be noted that the lower rack gears 24a and 24b work in the same way cooperate with corresponding parts, not shown.

A control gear 30 is rotatably arranged in a laterally movable slide. The control gear 30 is by a stepping motor 35 driven to rotate. The lateral movement of the

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Carriage 32 is caused by a rack 34 and a vane gear 36. The vane gear 36 is through a gear 38 connected to a stepping motor, not shown. By the stepper motor 35 as well as the The stepping motor controlling the gearwheel 38 is a precise adjustment of the position of the control gearwheel 30 and the sliding carriage 32 possible. The position of the control gear is detected when it is rotated by an optical sensor 4 0, which with a slotted disk 42 fastened to the drive shaft 44 of the control gearwheel cooperates. The sensor 40 represents a Represents a dual channel LED photodetector combination and operates in conjunction with disk 42 as a conventional quadrature encoder. By counting the number and sequence of transitions of the encoder, the position of the control gear can be determined will. Additional optical sensors and slotted disks can be provided anywhere in the mechanism to allow the Position various components in the operation of the postage meter machine related information. The stepper motors can according to that in US Pat. No. 3,978,457 relating to a "microcomputerized electronic postage meter system" or at the same time with the present application filed patent application B 583 (internal file number of the applicant) concerning a "electronic franking machine with several computer systems" disclosed systems be controlled.

Unless its movement is blocked, which will be described in detail below, the slidable Carriage 32 can be moved laterally to operate with a selected laterally spaced gear, such as gears 28a and 28b to be operatively engaged. The control gear 30 can then be driven to rotate by the stepping motor 35 in turn to rotationally drive the engaged gear and the associated print wheel adjustment mechanism to operate. The stepper motor 35 can be of a conventional type, such as that from North American Philips Control Corporation Model A82783 manufactured stepper motors. Such motors, when rotated through any number of steps

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always have the same step angle tolerance in degrees. In order to achieve greater accuracy when adjusting the motor shaft To achieve this, it may be desirable to rotate the motor shaft more than one step. For example owns the stepper motor of the model A82783 has a step angle tolerance of + 0.5 ° regardless of the number of steps the Stepper motor shaft is rotated. Since each step means a seven and a half degree rotation of the shaft, one complete includes Shaft rotation of 360 ° 48 step positions. By between each operating position of the franking machine stepper motors If multiple steps are used, the percentage of errors per turn to an operating position is reduced.

In the postage meter machine 10, a locking bar 46 is in one position can be brought and returned, in which the rotation of the drive gear 14 of the postage meter machine is blocked or blocked is. In the locked position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is, the end piece 48 of the locking rod protrudes through a slot in a disk 52 which is at a distance from the drive gear 14 of the postage meter, but firmly attached to it, is arranged. The end piece 48 of the locking rod protrudes through the slot into the space between the disc 52 and the drive gear 14. In this position, the drive gear 14 is the Postage meter against rotation of the printing drum 12 for printing postage or other information on a mailpiece blocked or banned.

The locking bar 46 is by a locking bar lever 54 in the Locked position transferable and traceable. The locking bar lever 54 is part of a postage meter drive base 56, on which the postage meter machine 10 is removably attached. The locking rod lever 54 protrudes through an opening in the bottom 58 of the Postage meter frame through to engage in a recess 60 of the locking rod. When the postage meter broker 70 and the postage meter broker 72 from the locking position in which they hold the locking bar in its printer locking position, are conveyed out, the locking rod 46 can be moved,

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to release the postage meter drive gear 14 so that it can be rotated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the postage meter drive base 56 has a drive gear 66 which is provided for engagement with the drive gear 14 of the postage meter and to drive it. Upon initiation of a print cycle ¹ by triggering the trigger mechanism 68 of the postage meter drive base, the locking bar lever 54 is driven by the postage meter drive base to be moved in a direction in which the locking bar is moved from the locking position to the release position. The postage meter base may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,934,009 relating to "sheet feeding and processing". With this type of base, when the locking bar 46 is locked against movement, the locking bar lever is not engaged with a clutch of the drive base. As a result, no drive power to rotate the drive gear 66 is supplied to the base. This prevents jamming when the locking rod is locked in the position for locking the rotation of the drive gear of the postage meter machine and the base for initiating a print cycle ^{1 is} triggered.

Movement of the locking bar lever 54 to move the locking bar out of its locking position can only occur when the intermediaries 70 and 72 are moved away from the locking position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. After the locking rod 46 has been brought into its release position, the rotation of the drive gear 66 for driving the drive gear 14 of the postage meter machine can begin. Following the completion of a print cycle ¹ , the locking bar 46 is moved back to its locking position by the locking bar lever 54 and the intermediaries 70 and 70 can be moved to the locking position. A locking member, not shown, may be provided to ensure that the postage meter cannot re-enter its cycle without the locking bar going through a cycle as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 024,812 dated March 28, 1979,

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concerning a "franking machine improvement", described type from ^^ leads. The switch 70 is at one end Rotation pivoted about a pivot 74 to engage a shoulder 76 attached to the locking bar 46 reach. The operator is in the locking position by means of a spring-loaded lever 82 on the plunger 78 of a solenoid 80 in its non-energized state downward force held in the locked position. The force exerted by the spring 84 is sufficient to the oppositely directed force of a relative weak spring 86 to surpass.

When the solenoid 80 is energized, the plunger 78 is withdrawn and mediator 70 rotated in the direction of arrow 88 by the force of spring 86. The mediator 70 rotates until it engages a stop 90. In this position, the intermediary 70 is removed from its locking position with respect to the locking rod 76. The order the switch 70 and its associated parts is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 024,812 filed March 28, 1979 a "postage meter improvement" is disclosed. The intermediary 72 is independently controlled by the rotation of the control gear 30, when this is in mesh with a partial gear 92 laterally spaced from the gears 28a and 28b. That Part gear 92 is rotatably arranged on a shaft 93 which is concentric with shafts 26a and 26b.

The laterally movable slide 32 can be brought into position in this way be that it selectively engages with both the gears 28a and 28b, as well as with corresponding, not shown, the rack drive gears 24a and 24b associated with gears or the part gear 92. How special 3 to 6, tooth profiles 94a and 94b are provided in order to communicate with the gears 28a and 28b to come into engagement and to prevent their rotation when they are not in engagement with the control gear 30. Likewise, the tooth profiles 94a or 94b can mesh with the partial gear 92 to prevent it from rotating,

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when the partial gear 92 is not in mesh with the control gear 30. Similar tooth profiles cannot be used on this illustrated lower region of the laterally movable carriage 32 may be provided to the other of the position adjustment of the To lock racks in the printing drum shaft 16 associated gears against rotation.

The partial gear 92 is rigidly connected to a cam locking member 96 for joint movement. The partial gear 92 is connected by a handlebar 98 to a bracket or toggle lever 100 rotatably arranged on an axis 102. The knee lever is rotatably driven by the handlebar 98, which in turn is controlled by the partial gear 92. The handlebar 98 is in an arcuate slot 104 provided in the partial gear 92 is movably received. The arcuate slot allows for one Rotation of the cam locking member 96 without a corresponding movement of the mediator 72. The mediator 72 can by only one The spring 73 shown in FIG. 2 can be biased in the sense of a rotation into its locking position. Therefore, if the arch-shaped Slot 104 is not just placed in such a way that its slot ends abut against the handlebar end 106 is the mediator 72 is biased into its locking position.

In Fig. 3, the cam locking member 96 is shown in a position in which it is disengaged from a cam lock slot 108 by the partial gear 92. The knee lever 100 is brought in such a way that a lug 110 locks the locking rod 46 in its locking position. In this position is the movable carriage 32 is freely slidable to selectively engage with the gears 28a and 28b. The sled 32 is freely movable, but the extension 110 locks the locking rod 46 in a position in which a drive of the Printing drum 12 is prevented or blocked by a rotation of the drive gear 14 of the franking machine. If the Slide 32 is moved against the gears 28a and 28b, arrives a cam lock mediator 33 with an incision 37 in the Cam lock member 96 engaged. The intermediary 33 locks the cam lock member 96 when the partial gear 92 is not with the

130020/0757

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Control gear 30 is engaged. This will make the Cam lock member 96 and the partial gear 92 in one position locked, in which the toggle lever attachment 110 the locking rod 46 locked in their locked position. The printing character selection function is enabled and the printing function is disabled.

As can be seen from Fig. 4, a rotation of the partial gear 92 in the direction of arrow 112 the cam locking member positioned for engagement with the cam lock slot 108 of the carriage 32. As a result, the carriage 32 locked against lateral movement and a movement of the adjustment mechanism 'prevented. Remains in this position the extension 110 of the toggle lever 100 in its locked position. However, the handlebar end 106 rides on the arcuate one Slot 104 along and comes into a position in which a rotation of the toggle lever 100 is set in motion when the partial gear 92 is rotated further in the direction of arrow 112. Both the print character selection function and the print function are blocked.

Reference is now made to FIG. In this position, the cam locking member 96 is further into the cam locking slot been screwed in. The carriage 32 remains blocked against lateral movement. However, the toggle 100 rotated under the action of the handlebar 98 in order to remove the projection 110 from its locked position with the locking rod 46. The locking rod 46 is shown in a forwardly displaced position, which can only occur when the Mediator 70 has also been removed from its locking position. In the position shown in Fig. 5 is the The carriage 32 is locked against movement and the drive gear 14 of the postage meter machine is released by the gear 66 of the postage meter drive base to be driven for one printing cycle of the printing drum 12. The print character selection function is locked and the printer function is enabled.

If, for any reason, as shown in FIG

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If the unlocked position has been moved, the partial gear 92 cannot rotate enough to move the carriage 32 to release. Rotation of the partial gear 92 in a direction in which the cam locking member 96 is released from the slot 108 is due to the meeting between the knee lever attachment 110 and the upper edge of the locking rod 46 prevented. As a result, the print character selection function remains disabled and the printer function is enabled. If for some reason such as a malfunction of the machine, it is desirable to use the switch 110 to inhibit further pushing itself when the locking bar is at the front, the mechanism can be as in Fig. 6 are shown in position, so that when the expected return of the locking rod (for example after the pressure cycle currently taking place) the intermediary under the action of gravity and the spring 73 into that shown in FIG Configuration falls back.

By means of the control gear 30, the partial gear takes place 92, the handlebar 98 and the knee lever 100 having a control and positive actuation of the locking of the mechanism Print character selection function and the printer function. By controlling the rotation of the control gear 30, the functions of the Choosing postage fees and pressing postage fees alternately locked out. Furthermore, if a malfunction of the postage meter machine is detected and the malfunction as is considered sufficiently serious, the control gear to be brought into engagement with the sub-gear in position and the Bring the mechanism for locking the franking machine in place. This includes both a blocking of the printing character selection function as well as the printer function. In addition, if a malfunction of the intermediary 70 is detected, the franking machine to block the printer function can be blocked by the control gear 30 with the sub-gear 92 in Engaged and the mediator 72 is moved into its locking position.

130020/075?

Claims (1)

040533 B 582 " Claims Printer control system, characterized by means for printing (12), the printer means being adjustable Has printing members (18) and can be driven for printing by an operating energy source (56), a drive means (14) operatively connected to the printer means by which the printer means for Printing is drivable, printer locking means (46) coupled to the drive means through which the drive means is in its open position a drive for a printing effect directed by the printer means can be blocked, an adjustment means having a gear rotatably disposed and operatively connected to the printer means (30) for selective adjustment of the pressure members (18), and an actuator controlled by the adjuster gear (30) and connected to the printer lockout means (46) for actuating the printer locking means to drive the drive means (14) in its on a drive to lock the printer means directed action. 2. Printer control system according to claim 1, characterized by: an adjustment lock means coupled to the adjustment means, by means of which the adjustment means in its on adjustment the pressure members (18) directed action can be blocked, and an actuating means connected to the adjustment locking means for actuating the adjustment locking means in order to Einste ^ means in its on an adjustment of the pressure members directional effect to lock. 130020/0717 §040533 B 582 3. Printer control system, characterized by: postage printer means (12) for printing postage, the postage printer means being adjustable is to print a number of different postage amounts and through an operational power source (56) to the Printing of postage charges is drivable, an operationally coupled with the postage charge printer device Drive means (14) for driving the printer means to print postage, postage printer locking means (46) coupled to the drive means through which the drive means in its effect directed to a drive for printing postage fees by the printer means can be blocked, postage setting means having a rotatably disposed and operable with the postage printing means (12) connected gear (30) through which the postage amount adjustment of the postage printing means to a selected postage amount within the number the various postage fee amounts can be changed, and a postage rate setting means gear (30) controlled and coupled to the postage rate printer locking means (46) connected actuating means by which the postage printer locking means can be actuated to drive the drive means (14) in its directed to a drive for printing postage by the postage printing means (12) Effect is lockable. 4. Printer control system according to claim 3, characterized by: postage setting blocking means coupled to the postage setting means, by the postage setting means in response to a change in the postage amount setting of the postage fee printer means directed effect is lockable, and said operating means further comprising said postage setting lock means is connected for an actuation of the postage fee setting lock means to the postage fee 13ÖÖ20 / Ö7S? §040533 . 3 ⁵⁸² Setting means in its on a change in the postage amount setting to block the effect directed towards the printer. 5. printer control ^ gtem according to claim 4, characterized in that that the actuating means is controlled by a rotation of the gear (30) to: (1) to operate the postage printer lockout means to to lock the drive means (14) in its effect when the actuation means is not actuating on the Postage setting lock means acts to the postage setting means in its effect lock; and (2) to operate the postage setting lock means to operate the postage setting means to lock when the actuating means does not actuate the postage fee printer locking means to to block the drive means in its effect. 6. printer control system according to claim 5, characterized in that the actuating means by rotation of the gear (30) is controlled to for a concurrent operation the postage fee printer locking means for locking the drive means in its effect and the postage setting blocking means for blocking the postage setting means to operate in its effect. 7. A printer control system according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuating means is effected by rotation of the postage adjustment means gear (30) is controlled to: (1) to actuate the postage fee printer locking means in order to lock the drive means (14) in its effect, when the actuating means does not actuate the postage setting lock means to the To block postage setting means in its effect; (2) to operate the postage setting blocking means, the effect of the postage setting means to lock when the actuating means does not actuate the postage fee printer locking means to to block the drive means in its effect; and (3) the postage printer lockout means for concurrent operation for blocking the drive means in its effect and the postage setting blocking means to operate to block the postage setting means in its effect. A printer control system characterized by: postage printing means (12) for printing postage; wherein the postage printer means is adjustable to apply a number of different postage amounts print and can be driven by an operating energy source (56) for printing postage fees, one with the Postage printer means operatively coupled drive means (14) to said printer means for printing To drive postage fees, postage setting means having a rotatably disposed and operable with the postage printing means (12) connected gear (30) through which the postage amount setting of the postage printing means can be changed to a selected postage fee amount within the number of different postage fee amounts, a locking means (46) which can be moved into and returned to a position in which the drive means (14) in its drive for printing postage fees can be blocked by the printer means, an intermediary means (72) for Holding the locking means (46) in the locking position, and one with the postage adjustment means gear (30) coupled means to move the intermediary means (72) into which the locking means is held in the locking position Position is movable and retractable. Printer control system comprising a rotatable printing drum and means for rotating the drum and with sets of Print wheels driven by a number of laterally spaced independently rotatable gears 130020/0717 . 5 "x ^{B 582} Gear arrangement can be set in different positions, characterized by:
a laterally movable slide (32), a control gear (30) which is rotatably arranged within the slide and which can be brought into engagement at a specific time with a single one of the independently rotatable gears (28a, b), during which time the one in engagement is independent rotatable gear can be driven by the control gear, a locking means (46) which is in a position for locking the movement of the means (14) for rotating the printing drum (12) is movable and retractable, an intermediary means (72) by which the locking means can be retained in the locking position, and means arranged to mesh with the control gear (30) and drivable by the control gear to provide the intermediary means to move and return the locking means (46) in the locking position holding position. 10. A printer control system comprising a rotatable printing drum and means for rotating the drum and having sets of printing wheels independently rotatable by one of a number of laterally spaced apart. Gear wheel arrangement having gears are adjustable in different positions, characterized by
a laterally movable slide (32), a control gear (30) which is rotatably arranged within the slide and which can be brought into engagement at a specific time with a single one of the independently rotatable gears (28a, b), during which time the one in engagement is independent rotatable gear can be driven by the control gear,
a locking member (96), one coupled to the locking member and laterally spaced from the independently rotatable gears (28a, b) and gear (92) arranged to mesh with the control gear, 130020/0787 B 582 a locking means (46) extending into the path of movement of the means (14) for rotating the printing drum (12) and can block them, a toggle link (100) with an extension (110), wherein the Toggle lever can be moved into a position in which the extension holds the locking means (46) in a locking position, as well as in another position in which the extension does not hold the locking bar in the locking position, link means (98) for connecting the toggle lever to the locking link gear, and wherein the lock link gear is rotatable by the control gear (30) to hold the toggle hub in place Bring the locking means in the locking position and the locking means is released to the carriage (32) to unlock for one movement and through the Control gear is rotatable to the knee lever attachment from the to remove the locking means in the locking position holding position and to bring the locking means into engagement, to lock the slide to prevent movement. 11. Printer control system according to claim 10, characterized in that that the rotatable gear (92) has an arcuate slot (104), and that the link means (98) such is connected to the arcuate slot that the toggle lever and the locking member (96) are each different Move amounts of angular rotation as the control gear (30) rotates the lock member gear. 12. printer control system according to claim 10, characterized by a locking member mediator (72) with the Locking member (96) is engageable when the locking member gear (30) is rotated to the toggle extension (110) to hold the locking means (46) in the locking position. 13. Printer control system according to claim 10, characterized in that that the movable carriage has a slot (108) in which the locking means (96) can be received, §040533 . "f. B 582 when the locking means is rotated to engage the laterally movable carriage. 14. Printer control system according to claim 10, characterized by an intermediary means (70) which is controlled independently of the toggle lever (100) and in a position for holding of the locking means (46) is movable and retractable in the locking position. 15. Printer control system according to claim 10, characterized in that that the locking means (46) is a locking rod. 16. Printer control system with a printing members having printer means, which by a gear arrangement with a Number of spaced, independently rotatable gears are adjustable in different positions, characterized by a movable carriage (32), a control gear (30) rotatably arranged in the carriage, which can be brought into engagement with a single one of the independently rotatable gears (28a, b) at a time, during which time the engaged independently rotatable gear is rotated by the control gear can be, a locking member (96), movable means (92) connected to the locking member and adapted to be driven by the timing gear (30) can be brought into engagement, wherein the movable means (92) is movable by the control gear to move the locking member to a first position to bring to lock the laterally movable carriage against lateral movement, and wherein the movable means (92) is through the control gear is movable to bring the locking means into a second position to the laterally movable carriage to release for a movement. 130020/0767 B 582 17. Printer control system according to claim 16, characterized in that that the movable carriage (32) is a locking link intermediary (33), the locking link intermediary for engaging and retaining the locking link is brought into the second position when the control gear (30) with an independently rotatable Gear (28a, b) is engaged. 18. Printer control system with a rotatable postage printing drum and a set of postage amount printing members which are converted into different ones by a gear arrangement Positions are adjustable, characterized by: a movable carriage (32) within which a control gear (30) is rotatably mounted, wherein the movable carriage for adjusting the position of the control gear movable into operative engagement with the gear assembly (28a, b) for the postage amount printing members (18) selectively in position, a slide locking means (96), a rotatable one connected to the slide locking means Link (92), wherein the rotatable member (92) for adjusting the position of the carriage locking means (96) is rotatable to with the to engage the movable carriage to prevent movement of the carriage, and the rotatable member (92) for positional adjustment of the carriage locking means is rotatable about the movable carriage disengaged to release the movable carriage for movement. 130020/071?